Where There’s Clarity, There’s Communication – Conversation Principle #6

August 5, 2026|Mary Jane Copps

Clarity delivers confidence. Ambiguity breeds confusion.

Think for a moment about the following statements, which we’ve all heard more than once in our lifetime: “We’ll try to get to it this week,” “Your work is generally fine, “We’ll be in touch,” or two of my favourites, “I’m just calling to follow up” and “I’m wondering if you’ve looked at our proposal.” 

None of these statements is clear. And this lack of clarity allows for numerous misunderstandings of what the conversation is really about and what is truly being said or asked. 

The best communicators acknowledge this important fact: Communication doesn’t end when we stop talking. It continues in the stories and interpretations we tell ourselves afterwards.

Our 2026 Real-Time Business Conversation Index revealed that 98% of business leaders believe real-time conversations are critical to their business success, while only 11% believe they happen exceptionally well. For me, this immediately pointed to the consistent prevalence of ambiguity in our business conversations.  

When expectations, priorities or feedback aren’t clearly expressed, we don’t always ask for clarification.

The conversation ends and we continue interpreting, assuming and guessing. (Embarrassment has me squirming a bit as I write this, thinking about moments in both my personal and professional life where I failed to create clarity. And where I kept guessing long after a conversation was over!)

Of course, when this happens, problems inevitably occur. 

So the question is, why do we communicate in a vague manner? The reasons are numerous and rarely relate to a lack of vocabulary or a desire to create confusion. It’s usually about wanting to avoid something. We might be trying to avoid disappointing someone, or sounding critical, or creating conflict. Or, as is often the case with many of the new business owners I work with, trying to avoid sounding like they want to sell something. 

However, in trying to protect ourselves or a relationship in this way, we often create uncertainty that leads to confusion or resentment. Consider these examples: 

  • “I’ll call you Tuesday morning,” instead of saying “I’ll maybe call you sometime next week.”
  • “The proposal needs two changes before I can approve it,” instead of saying “This needs a little work.”
  • “I don’t have enough information to make a decision,” instead of saying “We’ll see.”
  • “I’m calling to follow up on my proposal to hear your thoughts,” instead of saying “I’m just calling to follow up to see if you’ve had a chance to review my proposal.” 

Mindset Shift

Here’s what I’ve understood about clarity that’s helped eliminate vague language: Clarity isn’t harsh; it’s specific. And it isn’t the opposite of kindness;  it’s one of our clearest expressions of respect. 

Try This This Week

Think of one conversation you’ve been postponing because you’re worried about saying the wrong thing, about sounding unkind. Ask yourself this question: “When this conversation ends, what is the one thing I want the other person to understand or share with me?”

Then use that sentence to get the conversation started. Perfection is not expected or necessary. What’s necessary is clarity.

Real-time conversation skills directly impact leadership effectiveness, customer experience, collaboration, and business growth.

As communication becomes increasingly digital, many professionals spend less time practicing and using the skills required for clear, confident and effective real-time conversations. Explore new options for improvement.

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